Published: Friday, 7th March, 2008 10:00
Students shock Peebles in top clash
By George Wilson at Whitestone Park
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Peebles Andy Martin and Peebles players try to stop a Heriot-Watt attack.
In a top-of-the-table clash in the Tyreman East of Scotland League first division, Peebles narrowly lost out to Heriot-Watt University.
In fact, Peebles never got fully into their stride throughout the 90 minutes and University keeper Murray Scott only had to make one noteworthy save over the piece.
The weather made it a little difficult to play good football; the pitch was heavy with a strong wind blowing down the park.
Despite the conditions, Peebles still managed to play some neat passing football in the second half, although it unfortunately didn’t really get them anywhere at the end of the day.
Peebles had their fair share of possession, but just couldn’t make it count.
Peebles showed first when, from a Paul Devlin left wing cross, Kerr Dodds fired the ball narrowly past the Students’ right hand post with a cracking shot from 18 yards.
The University immediately replied with Jamie Brown making a menacing run into the Peebles box where he was foiled by an excellent save from Darren Walker at close range.
Clear-cut scoring chances were few and far between at both ends until Walker thwarted Banji Koya with a fine save.
Play continued to rage up and down the park until Peebles came close to opening the scoring after 28 minutes. After latching onto a hefty clearance from the Peebles keeper, Andrew Martin sent over a right wing cross that picked out Devlin, who was on target with a terrific dipping shot from 20 yards until Scott tipped the ball over his crossbar with a splendid one handed save.
The Students replied with a Brown right wing cross finding Oliver Antoni who sent the ball harmlessly over the Peebles crossbar with a blistering shot on the volley from 20 yards.
Heriot-Watt finally broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time.
After making an electrifying run down the middle of the park, Luke Cassidy threaded the ball through to Koya inside the Peebles box.
Then Koya neatly slipped the ball inside to Mark Wells, who coolly beat a diving Walker with a crisp angular shot from 14 yards into the far bottom right hand corner of the Peebles net.
The Students posed a threat shortly after the break when Brown sent over a right wing cross to the far post which picked out the in-rushing Antoni, who somehow managed to miss the target from 8 yards when it almost seemed easier to score.
Back again came the Students, but from a Koya pass, Antoni was once again wide of the mark with his attempt from 25 yards.
Then at the other end, Antoni tripped Michael Moffat just outside the University box. From the resulting fee kick Devlin could only lash the ball well over the Students’ cross bar from 20 yards.
Moments later, Jimmy Rae failed to trouble Peebles keeper Walker with a long-range effort.
Peebles were playing a little better now, but it was still the same old story as, from a Devlin corner kick on the left, Dodds was well off-target with his attempt from 18 yards.
Heriot-Watt were denied a second goal seven minutes from full time when, from a Lee Manderson corner kick on the right, Simon Ferrie seemed almost certain to score with a header from six yards until James Robertson cleared the ball of the Peebles goal line with Walker well beaten.
Peebles replied with a neat build up before James Robertson’s deflected shot from 20 yards was comfortably saved by Scott. Then in the fourth minute of injury time Dodds sent the ball harmlessly past the University’s left hand post with a desperate effort from long range.
Peebles FC: D.Walker, K.Robertson, G.Thom, G.Tainsh, P.Russell, K.Dodds, A.Martin (J.Robertson, 66 minutes), M.Osbourne, C.Graham (A.Szczesniak, 58 mins), P.Devlin, M.Moffat (M.Brown, 58 mins). Substitutes not used: P.Lee, A.Paterson.
Heriot-Watt University: M.Scott, S.Sutherland, J.Rae, F.Paterson, S.Cairns, A.Mitchell, J.Brown (G.Paterson, 78 mins), O.Antoni, B.Koya (S.Ferrie, 78 mins, L.Cassidy (L.Manderson, 66 mins), M.Wells. Substitute not used: D.Livie.
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Further Details
Peebles eye up their first points